Performance: The Constant Wife Genre: Play Series: Mainstage Location: Theatre

April 17-May 3, 2009

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_The Constant Wife_…a constant delight!

W. Somerset Maugham’s blithe-spirited comedy The Constant Wife takes a look at marriage, adultery and the delightful aspect of revenge at the Erie Playhouse.

This sparkling comedy of manners is one of Maugham’s best. Audiences and critics alike have found his views of sex, marriage, and infidelity altogether witty, charming, light-hearted and enormously entertaining.

The story unfolds in the elegant drawing room of Constance Middleton (played by newcomer Christine Linkie) and her surgeon husband, John (Jawn Gross). While outwardly it appears they are happily wed, the audience soon finds out all is not what it seems, as the truth – her husband is having an affair with her best friend Marie-Louise (Shantel Kay) – is brought forth by Constance’s sister Martha (B.J. Waide) and her mother (Teresa Testrake). It may appear that Constance is blissfully ignorant, but we soon discover, she is not only aware but ready to extract delightful revenge.

Others in the cast include Ken Brundage as Bernard Kersal an old admirer who still carries a torch for Constance; Jeremy Pierce as Mortimer Durham, Marie-Louise’s blustering husband; Renee Bennett as the career woman friend, Barbara Fawcett, who offers Constance a job and Dan Pruyn as Bentley, the butler.

The Constant Wife is under the direction of Carolin Lynn. Joe Hassler creates the elegant 1930’s drawing room set and lights with Mary Rose Ferrara designing the resplendent period costumes.

The Constant Wife – a constant delight, deliciously witty – another hit for the Erie Playhouse.